London city hall: Committee agrees on bigger election signs, closer to the road

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Politicians are hoping fifth time’s the charm when it comes to election sign rules.

The corporate services committee debated the proposed election sign bylaw yet again Tuesday, proposing a final round of changes to the new rulebook that’s been revised, reworked and reviewed by staff for months.

It was intended to cut down on “sign pollution” during election campaigns and ensure signs weren’t creating a safety hazard for drivers.

But there was no pleasing politicians, who raised new concerns every time the bylaw surfaced. And on Tuesday, a local resident described the rules as “overkill” in a presentation to politicians.

“I fear what we have here with the proposed election sign bylaw is trying to perform brain surgery with a hammer,” said Shawn Lewis, who’s been involved in election campaigns at all three levels of government.

Mayor Matt Brown made a motion Tuesday that reflected some of Lewis’s suggestions, including slightly taller signs that could be set up within three metres of the road.

The draft bylaw limited sign height to 0.9 metres when placed between five and eight metres from the road. Brown’s motion would allow for signs to be 1.8 metres tall, and only three metres back from the roadway.

The bylaw proposed by staff required signs to be five metres back from the road.

“There’s all sorts of stuff that’s within five metres of the roadways,” Coun. Josh Morgan said, citing bus shelters with ads and utility boxes, some even painted.

He also wasn’t worried about taller signs obstructing drivers’ views.

“Quite frankly, the point of the sign is for people to be able to see it,” Morgan said.

Lewis argued many of the city’s own signs, such as those advertising possible land use changes, are less than five metres from the road and larger than what would be allowed under the sign bylaw.

The changes proposed by Mayor Brown passed 3 to 2. The bylaw goes to council for full approval.